04/05/2007
To celebrate the third year of FFI’s operations in the United States, Fauna & Flora International organized an evening with Sir David Attenborough in Washington D.C. on the 23rd of April.
The event was held at the Cosmos Club, an establishment described by U.S. conservationist Wallace Stegner as the closest thing to a social club for Washington’s intellectual elite. More than 100 Fauna & Flora International board members, staff and distinguished guests gathered to hear Sir David’s remarks on “Are We Changing Life On Earth?”
The evening concluded with a question and answer period. You can view videos of Sir David’s speech and some of the questions and responses via YouTube: Watch the footage, read the transcript.
Sir David was clear that the explosion in human population is taking its toll on natural lands and resources, wildlife, and the fragile balance that is required to sustain life on earth - climate change being a case in point.
In his travels to some of the most remote corners of the planet over the last 50 years, Sir David has intimate knowledge of these changes. He shared his observations with Fauna & Flora International's U.S. board, supporters, policy makers, conservationists, educators and others gathered that evening. Millions of people have watched his television documentaries and learnt about nature and people, far removed from the urban settings that are home to most of the planet’s six billion inhabitants. Knowing the natural world, Sir David said, is the key to harnessing our ability to appreciate and protect our precious planet.
With great enthusiasm and confidence, Sir David endorsed the 104-year history of Fauna & Flora International achievements in international conservation and encouraged the audience to join Fauna & Flora International efforts to continue its remarkable record of practical conservation efforts across the globe.
Our thanks again to Sir David Attenborough and all who made this exciting evening such a success in Washington, D.C.
“If you value the natural world, if you believe it should be conserved for its own sake as well as for humanity’s, then do please support FFI.” Sir David Attenborough, FFI Vice President. Please support us today.
FFI’s world-renowned conservation journal, Oryx, is packed with scientific papers, conservation news, comment and discussion. Receive Oryx by joining FFI today.
